On December 11 at 01:09 UTC, United Launch Alliance launched a Delta IV Heavy from SLC-37B at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The payload was classified.

This launch was originally supposed to take place back in July 2020 but was pushed to August 26th, 2020. It then suffered a further six scrubs/aborts because of Ground Support Equipment issues, with one attempt coming as close as T-7 seconds before aborting. After these aborts, ULA performed maintenance on the swing arm system at the launch pad. This took three months. Just in case, ULA also performed maintenance on the swing arm system at SLC-6, the west coast Delta 4 launchpad.

Even though the payload was classified, the mission patch was not. A lone wolf is front and center on snow-covered ground, howling at the sky. In the background, four other wolves stand in front of a mountain range under a snowy night sky.  At the top of the patch is the name of the mission and launch location.

According to the National Reconnaissance Office: The wolf’s howl represents its capability to warn the pack as the first point of detection against threats. 

The pack of five wolves is meant to represent “solidarity across the Five Eyes (FVEY) community.”

More Information

NRO press kit (pdf)

Spaceflight Now article